It was like Christmas of old with Dh and myself in the kitchen yesterday afternoon. We decided we would make a cake for Christmas, regardless of the fact we will be being careful re:-calories!
I had the recipe from my cousin and its one, where you melt the butter in a pan, add the fruit and sugar, allow it to cool and then add the rest of the ingredients. Dh got all the ingrediebts out of the cupboard and I weighed and followed the method.
While it was cooling down, we put it just outside the French Doors and sat inside keeping watch, just in case a cheeky magpie thought it would be a tasty treat and incase it rained.
We chatted about our childhood memories of the preparation for Christmas. Dh like myself had chicken, which was quite pricy years ago. I think ours was one from our back yard and Dh lived on a farm so his came from there.
I can remember sitting in the scullery with my grandmother, plucking the chicken, then she would burn any hard bits of the feathers left in the skin with a tightly rolled up piece of newspaper, a spill, with the end smoldering, it was called singe-ing. Then we made fresh bread crumbs, some for the stuffing and some for the bread sauce. Life in those times was labour intensive! Potatoes were peeled, and veg prepared all the night before.
My Aunt always arranged for someone dressed as Father Christmas to be at the front door, and I asked for my presents and I had to sing! I went to bed happy and my Aunts both had got me presents, any dolls were beautifully dressed, the one Aunt was dress maker. And like all children of that time pre-1950 in my stocking I had sweets and one present that I'd asked for.. there were usually bigger presents down stairs.
It was lovely chatting to my husband, we have always enjoyed each others company!
And here is the cake... 'Cacen byth yn methu' Never failure cake!
Chrisxx
13 comments:
That sounds like a wonderful time spent together, and doing something lovely and festive. I always think that a couple that can sit and chat have a much happier and close marriage. I feel sad when I see couple in cafes just sat looking into space or each on their phones and not talking to each other. Of course they might have their reasons, but surely having a coffee out together is a time to connect and chat. I'm glad you sat guard while the cake cooled down, the birds would have thought that Christmas had come early for them.
How lovely to still have that comfortable connection between you both. The cake looks yummy, it looks and sounds very much like a recipe I've had for years for a boiled fruitcake.
It is fun remembering childhood memories with someone else who appreciates the story. And the cake looks like it turned out just perfect. That Magpie doesn't know what he missed since you brought it in so quickly, lol.
My that cake looks delish! I recall when chicken was special, the main meat at Chrissy, the stuffing made from breadcrumbs crumbled by hand, the peas also shelled by hand, no frozen veg then. And a real pine tree my father would bring home, they were sold at petrol stations. That's all gone now.
What a lovely day together! Priceless!
Super cake! Christmas was much simpler and more meaningful in the fifties and sixties.
Your cake looks delicious. I don't make one any more, as no one in my family likes fruit cake.
We probably had a chicken for Christmas dinner, cannot remember much about the meals back then. My sister and I hung a stocking on our bed, in the morning it was filled with sweets, nuts and an orange. The last gifts I remember getting from under the tree, was a doll dressed in a lovely dress and books. They were the things I decided to put in the trunk when we emigrated to Canada.
That cake looks wonderful. How lovely to be able to share Christmas memories
I always find it interesting to hear of others' Christmas traditions--especially those from another country.
Your cake looks great! I enjoyed reading about your childhood Christmases. You must be busy with last minute things that must get done before the big day. Now I must go look up what "bread sauce" is and how it's made.
A lovely day together ...
Your cake looks delicious.
All the best Jan
Sounds like a lovely time with your husband baking and talking. :)
Such good memories, Chris, and the cake is a beauty!
Post a Comment